Reversible brake beam strut



March 26, 1940. T. K. cUMMlNs i 2,194,640

REVERSIBLE BRAKE BEAM STRUT F'ilecvNov.- 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jv VEN roe THOMAS Af Cl/MM//VJ @M/M Ww q Mrchze, 1940. Tmcwmms A 2,194,640

lREYERSJIBLE BRAKE BEAM STRUT Filed NOV. 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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- AjVI/z'sA/To Arrone-NE Ys Patented Mar. 26,` 1940 UNITED N STATE REVERSIBLE BRAKE BEAM s'rnU'r Thomas K. Cummins, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Northern Malleable Iron Company,

` ',Paul, Minn., a, corporation of Minnesota ,i Applieatien November 16, 193s, serial No. 240,742

6 Claims. (Cl. 1238-232) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in reversible brake beams and more particularly to the construction ofthe strut which c providesthe fulcrum for the brake beam lever.

Reversible brake beams of the compression type, as now commonly constructed, usually comprise a compression member and a tension memc ber, and a strut which is mounted between said members and is adapted for partial rotation to facilitate reversing the brake lever as is well known to the trade Certain well known struts now in commercial use,` are provided atene end with an integral head having an opening adapted to receive the compression member.l The opposite end of the strut usually has a seat for receiving the intermediate portion of the tension member. The loopv or head at one end of the strut and the seat at its opposite end are so constructed that the strut may be partially rotated to reverse the position of the brake` lever. To thus integrally form the head with the strut obviously requires that the loop or opening through the head fori receiving the compression member must be loosely engaged with the compression member to permit the head to be rotated thereon. The

head of the strut is usually secured in adjusted position With respect to the compression member by a suitable wedge. The .body of the strut has an elongated opening for receiving the' brake lever, and suitable apertures are provided in thev walls o-f this elongated opening for receiving the fulcrum or pivot pin for supporting the lever. These bearing apertures sometimes become elongated `from wear, after which it may become necessary to replace the entire strut. In a'strut having an integral head which encircles the compression member, itis necessary to dismantle the brake beam or, in other words, to separate the compression member from the brake 'heads and tension member in order that the strut may be removedfrom the compression member. This is objectionable in that it involves considerable y member l and which head has `a vsockettherein for rotatably receiving one end ofthe body 'of the strut, whereby the strut may readilyfand conveniently be partially rotated to reverse the brake lever without disturbing the assembly of the compression and tension members,` thereby greatly facilitating this operation.

Other objects of the invention reside in the unique construction of the strut which is provided at one end with va head having a portion embracing the compression member and secured to it by suitable means, `such as a wedge; in the novel connection between the head and the body of the strut, whereby the strut body may be relatively rotated with respect to the head to reverse the position of the brake lever; rin the means for limiting rotary movement of the` strut body in the head, whereby it will be properly positioned when rotated from one position to` the other; in the simple means `for securing the strut body to the head, whereby the body of the strut maybe removed from the brake beam for repairs or replacement, when necessary without removing the head from the compression member, and in the means provided for preventingaxial movement of the strutfbody in said head, when the body of the strut is in operative position.

VOther objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

disclosed a structure designed to carry out `the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not conned to assembly with the novel strut embodied therein;

` Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the strut; partially in section, to more clearly show the con-` nection between `the `strut body and the head provided at one endthereof, which is secured to the compression member;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figurev 2; c c Figure 4 is a bottom view of the end of the strut which is secured to the `compression member;`

Figure `5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5`5 of Figure 2, showingthe means for locking the strut body against relative rotation in the head, the two positions of the strut being shown in full and dotted lines; c -v Figure 6 is aicross-sectionalview -onthe-line' `'so c In the accompanying drawings, there has been 6-6 of Figure 2, showing the means for preventing longitudinal movement of the strut body in the head, when the body is in operative position;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the strut being removed from the head;

Figure 8 is a side view of Figure '7;y

Figure 9 is a view showing a construction of slightly modified form, wherein the head of the strut is secured to the compression'member-by bolts or rivets; and v' Figure 10 is a plan View of Figure 9.

-The novel strut herein disclosed is indicated generally by the numeral 2, and comprises abody 3, which preferably is hollow. The body 3 has diametrically opposed elongated openings 4 i in the wall thereof for receiving the usual brake lever 5, shown in Fgiu'e 1. Suitable bearing apertures 6 are also provided in thewall of the body3 -for receiving a pivot pin l, which supports the brake lever 5. The brake lever is of conventional construction, and therefore need not be described in detail.

The strut,.as best illustrated in Figure l, is adapted to be interposed between the usual compression member 8 and tension members of the brake beam assembly,fgenerally indicated by the numeral II. The usual brake heads I2 are secure-dto the ends of the compression andv tension members 8 and '9, respectively, in lany suitable manner well known to the trade.

To secure the strut 2 in position between thel compression member 8 and tension member. 9, it is shown provided at one end with a suitable opening I3, which preferably is elongated slightly to provide clearance for the tension member` 9, when the body 3 Aof the strut is reversed from one position to another. The opposite end of the strut body has a cylindrical portion I4 adapted to be received in a socket I5 provided in a head, generally indicated by the numeral i 6. The head I6, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, has a portion Il which surrounds or embraces the compression member 8.v The Yupper and lower walls of the portion Il are provided with suitablev apertures I8 adapted to receive a suitable wedge member I 9 which, when received inthe apertures I8 will engage the adjacent edges of the channel-shaped compression member 8 and the walls of the apertures I8 adjacent the socket I5. The vertical wall ilI` of the head I'I is preferably provided with a projection 22 adapted to engage the vertical wall of the compression member 8, when the wedge I9 is driven into place. The lower end portion 23 of the wedge may be bent, as shown in Figure 2, to prevent the wedge from becoming disengaged from the head, when the strut is secured in position in the brake beam.

The cylindrical portion I4 of the body 3.0i the strut has a shoulder 24 at one end adapted to engage the adjacent'end of the head I6. The shoulder 24 may, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, be enlarged by the provision of a bead 25 which extends partially around the body 3 of the strut. Notches 26 and 21 are provided between the ends of the bead 25 and the ends of an abutment member or lug, generally indicated by the numeral 28.

The cylindrical portion I4 of the strut body has provided thereon, diametrically opposite from the lug 28, a small projection 29, adapted; to pass through a recess 3| inthe wall of the socket I5, and into a slot 32 provided in said wall, when the cylindrical portion I4 of the strut is inserted into the socket. The slot 32 is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal centerline of therecess 3 I, and

form limit stops for the rotary movement of the strut body in the socket I5 of the head I6, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 6. In other words, the limit stops 33 are positioned to be engaged by the lug 29 on the strut "2 and 3. 'I'he wedge 34, when positioned as shown in-Figures 2 and `3, locks the body of the strut against relative rotation, whereby it cannot shift from one position to anothenwhen in use. It will also be noted that the slot 32 and projection 29 cooperate to prevent axial movement of the strut body in the socket I5, when the key :i4 is positioned as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The novel strut herein disclosed has been found very practical in actualuse and is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture in that it may be formed without requiring any machine work. In other words, all of the openings and recesses and slots may be cored in the operation of molding the strut, which greatly reduces the .cost of manufacture.

In operation, and it is desired to reverse the brake lever, it isonly necessary to remove the wedge 34, whereupon the body 3 of the strut may readily be reversedor partially rotated to bring the brake lever into proper position. When in f the desired position, the wedge is again inserted into the opening 35 to lock the body of the strut against relative rotation in the socket I5. If desired, other means than the wedges I9 and 34 may be provided for securing' the strut in position, but for practical purposes and for economy in manufacture, the wedges herein disclosed are deemed more desirable.

. In Figures 9 and 10, there is shown a strut having a T-shaped head, generally indicated by the numeral .36. The head 36 is shown provided at one kend with oppositely disposed flanges or lugs 38 adapted to be seated against theinner face of the compression member 8 and secured thereto'by such means as bolts 3l. Aside `from this change, the head 36 is substantially the same as hollow body having means at one end for engaging the tension member of the brake beam,

ahead at the opposite end of said body having a socket for receiving a portion of the strut body, a brake lever pivotally supported on the strut body, ymeans whereby said portion may be relatively rotated in said socket to reverse the brake lever, and a locking element` for securing the strut body against rotation, when the strut is in adjusted position, said locking element being movable in a direction lengthwise of the strut body.

.2. A reversible brake beam comprising a strut body having means at one end for engaging the tension member of the brake beam, a cylindrical limiting rotary movement of the strut body with e respect to said head tofacilitate positioning the strut, when reversing the brake lever, and means exteriorly of said head for positively locking the strut body against rotation, When in either of its adjusted positions.`

3. Areversible brake beam comprising a body having a seat at one end for receiving the tension member of the brake beam, a cylindrical portion at the opposite end of said body having a shoulder at one end, a head having a portion embracing the compression member of the brake beam and provided With` a socket for rotatably receiving the cylindricalend portion `o thestrut body, and whereby the strut body may be reversed, stops for limiting rotarymovemen't of the strut body With respect to said head to facilitate positioning the strut, when reversed from one position to another, means for preventingrelative longitudinal movement of the strut body With respect to said head, and means for positively locking the strut body against rotary movement, when in either of its adjusted positions.`

4. A reversible brake beam comprising a body having a seat at one end for receiving the tension member of the brake beam, a cylindrical portion at the opposite end of said body having an annular shoulder at one end, a T-shaped head adapted to be seated against the compression member of the brake beam, means for securing said head to the compression member, said head having a socket for rotatably receiving the cylindrical end portion of the strut body and Whereby the strut body may be rotated to reverse the brake lever, and means for limiting rotary move-` ment of the strut body With respect to said head,

therebyto facilitate positioning the strut when reversing the brake lever, and means exteriorly of the strut body for locking the strut body in adjusted position with respect to said head.

5. `A reversible brake beam comprising a body having means at one end for engaging the tension member of the brake beam, a reduced end portion at the opposite end of said body, a head secured to the compression member of the brakebeam and provided With a socket for rotatably receiving the reduced end portion of the strut body, a brake lever pivoted in the strut body, spaced notches in the periphery of the strut body adapted to be selctively alined with a Wedge-receiving opening provided in said head, a wedge receivable 6. A reversible brake beam strut comprising two parts, one of said parts having one end secured to the usual compression member of the brake beam assembly and having a socket at its opposite end, the other part having one end received in Asaid socket and having a seat at its opposite end adapted to receive the usual tension member of the brake beam assembly,a brake lever mounted in said second mentioned part, means whereby said second mentioned part may be rotatably adjusted with respect to the other part, thereby to reverse the position of the brake lever, and a locking element carried by one of said parts and engageable with notches in the periphery of the other of said parts, thereby to lock said parts against relative rotation, when the brake lever is in either of its adjusted positions.

THOMAS K. CUMMINS.

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